Pressing machine



Sept.\8, 1936. P. G. FRANKLIN PRESSING MACHINE Filed' March 22, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet Sept. 8, 1936 P. e. FRANKUN 2,053,950

PRESSING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1952 2 Shets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 8 i 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT [OFFICE PRESSING MACHINE Philip G. Franklin, Liverpool, N. Y. Application March 22, 193, Serial No. 600,463 10 Claims. (01. 38-34) This invention relates to garment and laundry presses, and has for its object, a press which is manually and readily operable into final closed position with a minimum effort on the part of the operator and also, means for holding or bracing the carrier lever for the upper pressing ele-' ment when the. press is being closed under heavy pressure.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the v ews.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of this press.

Figure 2 is aside elevation, partly broken away,

the parts being shown in their unlocked position after the final closing or pressing operation and before complete opening of the press.

Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 2, showing the position of the parts when in final closed, or pressing, position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail view of the final clamping mechanism.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view of the spring suspension means for the upper pressing element showing the spring compressed, or in its position assumed when the press is under heavy pressure.

This press is designed primarily as a household article, and the mechanism to be readily operated without fatiguing effort by the housewife or servant.

The press comprises generally, a suitable framc,.

cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the othenas upper and lower pressing elements, the latter being carried by the frame, a carrier for the movable, or upper pressing element, as a lever pivoted at or near its rear end to the frame in the rear of the pressing elements and extending forwardly and carrying the movable element at its front end, the

5 movable element being yieldingly suspended from the front end of the carrier, and the lever being movable on its pivot to carry the upper pressing element into and out of a position opposed to, or over the lower pressing element, a bracing means,

or look, for holding thelever in its position assumed when the upper pressing element is'op- .posed to the lower, means including an operating member for clamping the upper element into clamping coaction with the lower, and in so doing,

a: moving it relatively to the carrier lever, and means operated by the clamping mechanismfor controlling the operation of the bracing means .or lock.

I designates the base of the frame, which is so constructed as to rest upon a bench or table. 2 5 is the lower pressing element mounted on the base by the usual goose neck, or pillar 3. 4 designates the upper pressing element or head, both pressing elements being of the 'platen type.

5 designates the carrier lever pivoted at 6 near .10 its rear end to upright brackets 1 rising from the base I of the frame, this lever extendingforwardly from its pivot and having a support or head 8 at its front end from which the upper pressing element or head 4 is yieldingly suspend 15 ed. 'The lever Sis movable on its pivot from the dotted line position shown in Figure 2 into the full line position to bring the upper pressing element 4 into a position over the lower pressing element 2, this movement being against the ac- 20 tion of returning means, as a spring 9, housed within the frame I and anchored at its front end thereto and connected at l at its rear end to an angular arm ll extending rearwardly from the lever 5.

The movable element 4 is yieldingly suspended 5 from the support or head 8 by means of studs l2 extending upwardly from the element -4 and through the head or support 8, and springs l3 thrusting against the heads of the studs in one 30 direction, and against the bottoms of sockets I4 formed inthe head 8, through which sockets the studs extend.

The movable element 4 is clamped in finally closed position by mechanism which is particu- 35 larly easy to operate, so that the operation of the press will not strain or-fatigue the operator.

This mechanism, as here shown, comprises a "cam I6 mounted in the housing I! rising from the support or head 8 an'dmovable about its axis 40 by an operating lever l8 and motion transmitting parts operated by' the cam and coacting with the head, this motion transmitting part being here shown as a follower or plunger 26 slidable vertically through the supportor head 8 and 00- 5 acting at one end with the cam l6 and thrusting at its other end against the movable element 4. The housing I! is provided with a suitable cap 25. The lever I8 and cam l6 are mounted upon a rockshaft 21 extending transversely of. the 0 tubular housing I I. The cam is provided with a lift portion which coacts with the follower or plunger 25 to depress it and with a fiat or dwell portion 28 at the end ofthe lift portion in order automatically lock the head 4 in its clamped position, or in other words, so that the lever l3 will not return automatically to its upright position, when released, the cam thus locking th press in its finally closed position.

30 designates the bracing means, or lock, this being shown as pivoted at 3I'in the brackets I, and as movable on its pivot into and out of engagement with the lever 5, or an arm 32 extending rearwardly from the axis of the lever, this arm 32 being provided with a removable wear piece 33 for coacting with the lock. The lock is here shown as acted upon by a spring 34 tending to move it into an operative position. The brace or look 30, and the arm 32 or the wear piece 33 are shaped to coact with a cam action so that the brace or look firmly locks in any position the pressing element 4 assumes when in finally closed position. The arm 32 and the brace or lock 30 are so arranged that when the press head is pulled down, the brace or look 30 is moved by its spring 34, under the arm 32 with a camrning or wedging action, and thus holds the press closed, and the farther the head moves toward the lower pressing element 2, the farther the brace or look moves along the wear-piece or cam to take up the lost motion that would otherwise develop. In other words, the brace or look has a follow-up action taking up all lost motion that would otherwise occur during the follow-up action, so that the cam l6, when operated by the lever l8, delivers full pressure, and the presure is not relieved by back action or back lash of the lever 4. It will be understood that the element 4 closes under final pressure to a degree determined by the thickness of the work and the compression of the padding.

When the press is open and hence the carrier lever 5 elevated, the brace or lock 30 or upwardly extending arm thereof is held in its out position by the fact that it is thrusting against the rear end oi. the rearward extending arm 32 of the carrier lever 5 and when the press is closed by pulling down on the handle 44, or bringing the press head into a position over the buck 2, the arm 32 is elevated permitting the lock 30 to be actuated by the spring 34 under the rear end of the arm 32 and thus hold the press closed;

the lock 30 following up and coacting with thearm 32 with'a camming action as the press is finally closed or tightened by the operation of the lever I8.

The lock is controlled in its operation by connections operated by the lever [8. These connections are here shown as a link 35 slidable lengthwise of the lever 4 and connected at its front end to a lever 40, and coacting at its rear end with an angular arm 36 on the brace-or lock 30. The link 35 is controlled in its operation by the cam IS and as here shown, the front end of the link 35 is connected to a lever 40 pivoted at 4| in the housing I1 adjacent the cam l6, and the cam and lever 40 have coacting parts or shoulders 42, 43 arranged to come into action whenthe lever 18 is reversely moved to open the press. The shoulder 42 during retrograde or rearward movement of the lever 18 engages the shoulder 43 and thus by a cammi'ng action swings the lever 40. rearwardly to push the link 35 'rearwardly agalnst'the arm 36 and rock the locking member 30 rearwardly or counterclockwise (Figure 3) out from under the rear arm of the lever. 4, so that the spring 9 is free to react on the carrier .to fully open the-press. The lever 40 and cam it are also provided with coacting stop shoulders to limit the retrograde movement of the lever l3, after it has been moved far enough to shift the locking member 30 out of its operative position, and as here shown, the cam is provided with a stop shoulder li coacting with a complemental stop shoulder 40' on'the lever 40. This coaction of the cam and the lever 40 is somewhat analogous to the action of two incomplete or mutilated gears normally out of mesh and brought into mesh' so that one actuates the other and the rotation of the gears limited by the fact that the intermeshing teeth of the incomplete gear come to the end of the play. The pressing element 4 is provided with a handle 44 on its front side. The lower element 2 is preferably supported on cushioning springs 45. Either one or both of the elements 4 may be heated, as by electrical heating elements 46, Figure 3, and one or the other may be provided with the usual padding. Usually the upper element is heated and the heated element is provided with a projection 41 extending outwardly therefrom over which articles can be drawn for ironing them. This projection 41 is analogous to a ruflie iron or puffed ball.

When the press is initially closed by pulling down the handle 44, due to lost motion between the link 40 and the cam I6 or due to the strength .01 the spring 34 acting on the press or look 30,

the lock 30 shifts into locking engagement with the rearwardly extending arm 32 of the carrier lever 5 before the operator pulls forwardly on the lever I8. Thus the press locks in its preliminarfly closedposition before the final pressure is applied, this action being due to the lost motion before referred to or to the strength of the spring 34 being greater than the initial resistance of the lever I8.

In operation, when the press is open, the operator lays the work on the lower element 2, then closes the press by pulling down on the handle 44 with one hand, and clamps it into final pressure position by pulling forward on the lever l8 with his other hand and moving it into the position shown in Figure 3. Owing to the comparatively large movement of the lever 18 and small incline of the cam 16, the upper element 4 is moved into heavy pressure coaction with the lower element2 with minimum effort on the part of the operator. When the operator pulls forwardly on the lever l8, the link 35 is free to move forwardly under the influence of the spring 34 and the spring 34 moves the lock 30 under the arm 32 of the lever 5 and braces or locks the carrier lever 5 in closed position during the final clamping action of the cam l6. During this movement the shoulder 42 on the cam moves away from the shoulder 43 on the lever 40 (Figure 4). To open the press, the lever I8 is moved rearward to its full extent from its position shown in Figure 3, thus causing the shoulder 42 to coact with the shoulder 43 cam fashion an push the lock 30 out of its operative position permitting the spring 9 to react and swing the lever 5 upwardly to open the press. The stop shoulders I8 and 4li| thereafter come into engagement and limit the rearward movement of the lever I8.

What I claim is:

1. A pressing machine comprising a frame, upper and lower pressing elements, the lower element being mounted on the frame, the upper pressing element being movable toward and from the lower, a carrier for the upper pressing element comprising a lever pivoted to the frame, the lever being movable to carry the upper pressing element into and out of position over the lower pressing element, clamping means operable to move the upper pressing element relative to the lower into clamping engagement with the lower pressing element, means coacting with the lever for bracing the lever during the clamping movement, and connections between the clamping means and the bracing means to control the movement of the bracing means into operative position during the clamping action, and to re lease the bracing means during the unclamping operation. 4

2. In a garment pressing machine, a frame, cooperating pressing elements, one being fixed to the frame, and the other. movable toward and from the former, a support for the movable element including a lever pivoted to the frame and movable on itspivot to carry the movable element into and out of a position opposed to the other element, means acting on the lever-tending to actuate it to open the press, clamping mechanism between the lever and the movable element for actuating the movable element, relatively to the lever, into clamping coaction with the other element, including an operating member, a lock for holding the lever in its position assumed when the press is closed, connections operated by said operating member for controlling the movement of the look into operative position during the clamping action of said mechanism, and for moving the lock out of operative position during the unclamping. action.

3. In a garment press, a frame, cooperative pressing elements, one being movable toward and from the other and'the latter being carried by the frame, a carrier forthe movable element, supported by the frame and movable to carry the movable element into and out of position opposed to the other element, means for moving the movable element relative to the carrier into and out of clamping coaction with the other element, said means including a support on the carrier, an oscillating operating lever mounted on the support and motion transmit ting connections between the lever and the movable element, and locking means controlled by the operating lever for holding the carrier in its closed position, said locking means being controlled in its movement into locking position by the operating movement of the operating lever to clamp the movable element in final pressing. position and out of operative position by a reverse movement of the lever.

4. In a garment press, a frame, cooperative pressing elements, one being movable toward and from the other and the latter being carried by the frame, a carrier for thelmovable element supported by the franie and movable to carry the movable element into and out of position opposed to the other element, means for moving the movable element relative to the carrier into and out of clamping coaction with the other element, said means including a support on the carrier, a cam mounted in the support to turn about a horizontal axis, motion transmitting means between the cam and the movable element including a follower coacting with the cam, an operating lever for turning the cam about its axis, means for locking the carrier in the movable element into and out ofposition opposed to the other element, means for moving the movable element relative to the carrier into and out of clamping coaction with the other element, said means including a support on the carrier, a cam mounted in the support to turn about a horizontal axis, motion transmitting means between the cam and the movable element including a follower coacting with the cam, an operating lever for turning the cam about its axis, means for locking the carrier in its closed position, and means controlled by the cam for operating the locking means including a lever pivoted to the support, connections between the lever and the locking member, the cam having a portion for coacting with the lever to operate the same.

6. In a garment ,press, a frame, cooperative pressing elements, one being movable toward and.

from the other and the latter being carried by the frame, a carrier for the movable element supported by the frame and movable to carry the movable element into and out of position op-v posed to the other element, means for moving the movable element relative to. the carrier into and out of clamping coaction with the other element, said means including a support on the carrier, a cam mounted in the support to turn about a horizontal axis, motion transmitting means between the cam and the movable element including a follower coacting with the cam, an

operating lever movable in one direction to turn 'per and lower pressing elements, the lower element being mounted on the frame, the upper pressing element being movable toward and from the lower, a carrier lever for the upper pressing element, said lever being pivoted to the frame and having an arm extending on the opposite side of its axis to that on which the upper pressing element is located, the lever being movable to carry the upper pressing element into and out of position over the lower pressing element, clamping means operable to move the upper pressing element relatively to the lower into clamping engagement with the lower pressing element, a lock pivoted to the frame and having a part movable under said arm of the carrier lever to hold the carrier lever from retrograde movement, a spring acting on the lock to move it into operative position and connections between the clamping means and the locking means to control the movement of the locking means into operative-position by its spring during the clamping action and to release thelocking means during the unclamping operation.

8. A pressing machine including a frame, upper and lower pressing elements, the lower element being mounted on the frame, the upper pressing element being movable toward and from the lower, a carrier lever forftheupper pressing element, said lever being pivoted to the frame and having an arm extending on the opposite side of its axis to that on which the upper pressing element is located, the lever being movable to carry'the upper pressing element into and out of position over the lower pressing element, clamping means operable to move the upper pressing element relatively to the lower into clamping engagement with the lower pressing element, a lock pivoted to the frame and having a part movable under said arm of-the carrier lever to hold the carrier lever from retrograde movement, a spring acting on thelock to move it into operative position, and connections between the clamping means and the locking means to control the movement of the locking means into operative position by its spring during the clamping action and to release the locking means during the unclamping operation, said arm and the locking means coasting with a camming action, whereby the locking means has a follow-up action.

I 9. A pressing machine including a frame, upper and lower pressing elements, the lower element being mounted on the frame, the upper pressing element being movable toward and from the lower, a carrier lever for the upper pressing element, said lever being'pivoted to the frame,

the lever being movable to carry the upper press-- ing element into and out of position over the lower pressing element, clamping means operable to move the upper pressing element relatively to the lower into clamping engagement with the lower pressing element, a dock pivoted to the frame and having a part coacting with the carrier lever to hold the carrier lever from retrograde movement, a spring acting on the lock to move it into operative position, the lock being normallyheld from movement by the carrier lever when the press is open and connections between the ciamping means and the locking means to control the movement thereof into operative position by the spring during the clamping action and to release the locking means vduring the unclampin'g action, said lever and lock having means coasting with a camming action whereby the lock has a follow-up action.

10. A garment press including a frame, upper and lower pressing elements, the lower element being mounted on the frame and the upper pressing element being movable towardand from the lower, a carrier lever for the upper pressing element, said lever being pivoted to the frame and movable to carry the upper pressing element into and out of a position over the lower pressing element, a lock pivoted to the frame and having a part coasting with the carrier lever to hold the carrier lever from retrograde movement when the press is closed, a spring acting on the lock to move it into operative position, the lock having means normally coacting with the carrier lever so that the carrier lever holds the look from movement by its spring when the press is open and moves out of holding relation to the lock during downward movement of the lever to permit the lock to be moved by its spring into locking engagement withvthe lever and hold the lever from retrograde movement, and means for moving the upper pressing element relatively to the lever into clamping coaction with the lower pressing element, including a lever movable in one direction to effect the clampingaction and in the oppositedirection to release the clamping action, and connections operated by the lever. when moved in a retrograde direction, to trip the lock.

PHILIP G. FRANKLIN. 

